Welcome to the podcast page of A Fine Balance. Here you can find links to all of the podcast episodes, as well as more in-depth background to guest interviews.
The podcast of A Fine Balance launched on the anniversary of the blog, on 26th July 2021. The aim was to provide a voice to those who had featured on the blog’s Work-Life Balance Profiles series, and to go deeper into their stories of balancing work with everything else in their lives.
Since then, the podcast has expanded, with a view to showcasing a diverse range of perspectives on how individuals flex their work around life, and their life around work; to learn from one another and celebrate our differences.
There’s only one fixed question I ask my guests and that’s “what figure would you give your work:life ratio, and why?”. I recognise the flaws in this question, and that quantifying something this multi-faceted is not a science.
But it’s a good place to start to getting to the heart of their story.
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NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: The Work-Life Balance Diary of a CEO & The Pursuit of Balance When Your Child is Struggling – Featuring Liza Berresford
In this episode of the Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast, I’m joined by Liza Berresford, CEO of Thresholds – a provider of career support programmes – who speaks with remarkable honesty about what it really looks like to juggle a senior leadership role, family life, and her own wellbeing, while still very much in the thickContinue reading “NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: The Work-Life Balance Diary of a CEO & The Pursuit of Balance When Your Child is Struggling – Featuring Liza Berresford”
NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: On Menopause, Putting Family First and Finding a Work-Life Balance When Everything Changes – Featuring Jacqueline Rose
There’s a lot of discussion about hot flushes and brain fog when it comes to menopause. What’s talked about far less is the impact that its onset can have on a woman’s motivations, ambitions, and overall outlook on life. In the latest Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast episode, I sit down with Jacqueline Rose, a women’sContinue reading “NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: On Menopause, Putting Family First and Finding a Work-Life Balance When Everything Changes – Featuring Jacqueline Rose”
MAY NEWSLETTER: Everything Changes (And So Does Work-Life Balance)
As with every month’s end, as May has drawn to a close, I started thinking of a dominant theme covered on and around the podcast this month on which to base my newsletter. My latest podcast edits have featured interviews with people whose work and personal lives have undergone huge changes; I’m moving jobs soonContinue reading “MAY NEWSLETTER: Everything Changes (And So Does Work-Life Balance)”
NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY: On Life Purpose, Raising Teens & Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re “The Strong One” – Jennifer Y. Afriye’s Story
It’s not unusual for conversations about work-life balance to drift into the minutiae of the never-ending to-do list. But what if you flipped the magnifying glass around and saw things from another – more macro – perspective? Such was the conversation I hosted on the podcast episode out today, where my guest, Jennifer Y. AfriyeContinue reading “NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY: On Life Purpose, Raising Teens & Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re “The Strong One” – Jennifer Y. Afriye’s Story”
On “Leaving the Ladder Down”, Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Working Parent, and the Transformative Power of Therapy: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING DOLLY JONES
Beyond the Catchy Title When I came across Dolly Jones’ book Leaving the Ladder Down: How to Combine Career and Motherhood, from the Women Who’ve Done it, it immediately resonated with the approach I’d taken when starting the blog A Fine Balance, which evolved into the Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast. Both Leaving the Ladder DownContinue reading “On “Leaving the Ladder Down”, Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Working Parent, and the Transformative Power of Therapy: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING DOLLY JONES”
On Balancing a Corporate Job With Creative Pursuits, Boundary-Setting & Cultural Influences – Urmi’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING URMI HOSSAIN
In a world where the lines between work and personal life are increasingly blurred, achieving a work-life balance that feels right for you often comes down to the boundaries you decide to set for yourself and those around you. For my podcast guest this episode, there is no doubt where her work ends and theContinue reading “On Balancing a Corporate Job With Creative Pursuits, Boundary-Setting & Cultural Influences – Urmi’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING URMI HOSSAIN”
SEASON 5 HAS BEGUN! Kicking Off With Episode 1: On Defining Success, Learning from Adversity & Regaining Balance by Asking Two Key Questions
Sometimes it’s nice to be told what to do. No vague steers. No waffly suggestions. Just cold, hard, clear instructions. When it comes to the pursuit of work-life balance, where each person’s unique situation requires a bespoke approach, explicit guidance is not easy to come by. Because what works for one person won’t necessarily workContinue reading “SEASON 5 HAS BEGUN! Kicking Off With Episode 1: On Defining Success, Learning from Adversity & Regaining Balance by Asking Two Key Questions”
And The Winner Is…
At the start of 2026, I put out a call to listeners and the Riverside podcasting community to help me decide on a refreshed podcast cover artwork design to suit the rebranded podcast – if you missed what that was all about, check out this blog post: After a fair few redrafts, I have finallyContinue reading “And The Winner Is…”
Podcast Rebrand for 2026
Here’s what I’m letting go of in 2026. They’re just three little words, but they mean a lot. A. Fine. Balance. These were the words that I chose as the title of my maiden blog post. And they were the natural choice for the name of my website. And subsequently my podcast. “A fine balance”Continue reading “Podcast Rebrand for 2026”
2025: A Year in Review
Since wrapping up Season 4 of the podcast A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions, I’ve taken a break from recording to focus on other podcast-related activity. But, as the year draws to a close, I decided to plug the mic back in for one last time in 2025 to review the podcast’s content over theContinue reading “2025: A Year in Review”
On Self-Worth, Skincare Rituals, and Finding Balance Under the Weight of Parental Expectations – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING DR FERNANDA DA SILVA TATLEY
Podcast episode featuring Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley: On Self-Worth, Skincare Rituals, and Finding Balance Under the Weight of Parental Expectations My guest in this episode is no stranger to mixing things up: she has moved countries and even continents multiple times in her life; she is a scientist with a PhD, describes herself asContinue reading “On Self-Worth, Skincare Rituals, and Finding Balance Under the Weight of Parental Expectations – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING DR FERNANDA DA SILVA TATLEY”
On Being Bored and Unfulfilled at Work, Virtual Assistant Diary Management Tips, and Finding Work-Life Balance by Quitting Your Corporate 9-5 and Starting Your Own Business – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY FEATURING WOW MOM’S RACHEL GREEN
Burnout at work can be like a fire that flames intensely until it eventually devours all its fuel and extinguishes in exhaustion. Conversely, boredom at work can be more of a fading ember, gradually fizzling out into oblivion. What they have in common, however, is their potential to lead to a similar work-life balance tippingContinue reading “On Being Bored and Unfulfilled at Work, Virtual Assistant Diary Management Tips, and Finding Work-Life Balance by Quitting Your Corporate 9-5 and Starting Your Own Business – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY FEATURING WOW MOM’S RACHEL GREEN”
On Autism, Conscientiousness, Self-Acceptance, and the Pursuit of Work-Life Balance as a Neurodivergent Person in a Neurotypical World – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING HELEN JEFFRIES
I’m sorry to say that I’ve had to include a trigger warning at the start of the podcast episode out today, to warn listeners that some of the themes touched on throughout my recorded conversation with Helen Jeffries – a Senior Civil Servant in the UK Government, a prolific blogger on autism, a Trustee forContinue reading “On Autism, Conscientiousness, Self-Acceptance, and the Pursuit of Work-Life Balance as a Neurodivergent Person in a Neurotypical World – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING HELEN JEFFRIES”
50th Celebration Episode Out Now
What do turning 4 and hitting 50 have in common? Together they mean that the podcast A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions is officially old enough to contain some wisdom, but still in its infancy and curious to learn more. This month not only marks the podcast’s 4th birthday, but also the major milestone ofContinue reading “50th Celebration Episode Out Now”
✨Take Part in the 50th Podcast Episode Celebration✨
The next podcast episode I’m producing marks a huge milestone in the life of A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions – it’s the podcast’s 50th episode! To celebrate, this episode will be different to my usual format with a few surprises, including a run-down of the TOP THREE most downloaded Work, Life Balance Lessons. I’d love toContinue reading “✨Take Part in the 50th Podcast Episode Celebration✨ “
Going Live Tonight on Instagram with Lana Manikowski: On the Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances
You think your calendar’s chaotic? Try syncing it with an IVF cycle. When your body won’t stick to the plan, how do you balance career, identity, and everything in between? Lana Manikowski and I are going LIVE on Instagram this evening, Wednesday 18 June at 20.00 BST, to dive deeper into the themes that weContinue reading “Going Live Tonight on Instagram with Lana Manikowski: On the Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances “
Going Live on Instagram With Victoria Mortimer (AKA The Unlikely Accountant)! Join us Today at 14.00 BST
What are you doing at 14.00 (BST) today? If you’ve got 30 minutes and a cup of coffee, join me LIVE on Instagram with the incredible Victoria Mortimer ACA (aka The Unlikely Accountant)! We’ll be diving deeper into our recent podcast episode On Accountancy, Regaining Balance After Heartbreak, and the Power of a Good Night’sContinue reading “Going Live on Instagram With Victoria Mortimer (AKA The Unlikely Accountant)! Join us Today at 14.00 BST”
On Accountancy, Regaining Balance After Heartbreak, and the Power of a Good Night’s Sleep – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
When things feel right at work, it becomes so much easier to find a balance with everything else in life. And when things don’t, everything else can feel off kilter too. In the latest episode of the A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast, I sit down with Victoria Mortimer, a chartered accountant whose careerContinue reading “On Accountancy, Regaining Balance After Heartbreak, and the Power of a Good Night’s Sleep – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
The Pursuit of Work-Life Balance When You’re Grieving – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
This Work, Life Balance Lesson episode is not an easy one to broach because it’s on a highly sensitive subject, and one which hits everyone in an individually unique way: grief, and the interplay between bereavement and work-life balance. I’m reminded of the old adage that there are only two sure things in life: deathContinue reading “The Pursuit of Work-Life Balance When You’re Grieving – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
On Legacy, Purpose, and Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re Working as a Politician and Elected Official – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
What do you want to be remembered for? It’s a heavy question, I know. But when it comes to calibrating your work-life balance and deciding how to spend your limited time and energy, it’s one worth asking. What really matters in the end? And when I look back on my life, what do I wantContinue reading “On Legacy, Purpose, and Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re Working as a Politician and Elected Official – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
How Does Feeling Judged Impact Your Work-Life Balance, and What Can You Do to Manage Your Reactions to it? – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Do you ever feel judged for how you balance work with everything else in life? Or feel that people’s judgments about you – at work or in your personal life – impact your overall sense of balance? If so, you’re not alone. The subject of feeling judged, and the reactions it evokes, often arises inContinue reading “How Does Feeling Judged Impact Your Work-Life Balance, and What Can You Do to Manage Your Reactions to it? – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
The Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Have you ever found yourself on a life or career path that took you completely by surprise? When a plan you’d mapped out so clearly in your head didn’t unfold the way you’d imagined — or hoped — it would? Well, my guest in this podcast episode, Lana Manikowski, is no stranger to that kindContinue reading “The Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Time-Management Tips to Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Creating a meal-planner often comes up in podcast conversations as the ‘gold standard’ of time-management. Plan what you and your family are going to eat every day of the week, shop and prepare accordingly, and sorted: you’ve truly got your life together. I’m not knocking it. It’s a great, simple technique that anyone can adoptContinue reading “Time-Management Tips to Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
An Uphill Climb: One Woman’s Story of Social Mobility, Single Motherhood, and Work-Life Balance
Do you think there’s a direct correlation between educational attainment and imposter syndrome? The latest podcast episode of Work-Life Balance Confessions: A Fine Balance is about a woman who did not progress her education past high school. For legal reasons pertaining to her acrimonious divorce, she chose not to reveal her true identity, so weContinue reading “An Uphill Climb: One Woman’s Story of Social Mobility, Single Motherhood, and Work-Life Balance”
How Tapping into Your Feelings of Gratitude Can Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
In the latest podcast episode of A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions, out today, I dive into the lessons I’ve learned about the transformative power of gratitude and its profoundly positive impact on work-life balance. Drawing from the real-life experiences of past podcast guests, I explore how cultivating gratitude has shaped their perspectives, helping themContinue reading “How Tapping into Your Feelings of Gratitude Can Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
On Climbing the Career Ladder When You Haven’t Gone to University, and Single Motherhood When You’re Co-Parenting Following an Acrimonious Divorce – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TOMORROW
In the upcoming episode of Work-Life Balance Confessions: A Fine Balance, I share the anonymous “work-life balance confession” of someone who, for legal reasons pertaining to an acrimonious divorce, did want to reveal her true identity. We agreed on the pseudonym “Susan”, who revealed in a confidential interview the emotional and financial struggles she contendsContinue reading “On Climbing the Career Ladder When You Haven’t Gone to University, and Single Motherhood When You’re Co-Parenting Following an Acrimonious Divorce – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TOMORROW”
On Being a Primary-Caring Father, Juggling Work and Home Life With Creativity and Patience, and Finding Work-Life Balance as a Self-Employed Gardener – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
In this episode, self-employed gardener Joe Roukin, otherwise known as Mr Plant Whisperer, joins me for a candid conversation about his experience as a married dad of two who is the primary carer in his family. Joe shares his unique perspective on how to strike the right balance between staying organised and ‘going with theContinue reading “On Being a Primary-Caring Father, Juggling Work and Home Life With Creativity and Patience, and Finding Work-Life Balance as a Self-Employed Gardener – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
How to Find a Work-Life Balance by Working More – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
The rhetoric around work-life balance is often twinned with messaging around self-care and well-being. And whilst it’s true that the end result of improving your work-life balance is usually an enhanced sense of well-being, there are many ways in which a person can get to that point. And one of those is by working more.Continue reading “How to Find a Work-Life Balance by Working More – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Finding a Work-Life Balance When The ‘To Do’ List is Never Done: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
This solo episode covers the “Work-Life Balance Confession” of a woman named Kerry (*not her real name), who did not want to reveal her identity. Kerry’s work-life balance story originally featured on the blog, and centred on the themes of finding a work-life balance when: 📋 You have a never-ending ‘to-do list’ 🤰 You’re aContinue reading “Finding a Work-Life Balance When The ‘To Do’ List is Never Done: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You’re a Perfectionist – Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8
Is it possible to find a work-life balance when you’re a perfectionist? After all, perfectionism is often seen as a hindrance to work-life balance. Defined in dictionaries as a trait that causes people to be “not satisfied with anything less than perfect”, it is often associated with burnout. In the latest episode of the podcastContinue reading “How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You’re a Perfectionist – Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8”
On the Hidden Impact of Debt, Body Image Struggles, and Being “Replaceable” – Lorna’s Story. NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!
The first episode of Season 4 of A Fine Balance is out now! In it, we explore some serious life challenges that can underlyingly impact a person’s work-life balance, through the personal story of my guest Lorna McKenna. Lorna works full-time in local government, alongside running her passion project of coaching and hosting a personalContinue reading “On the Hidden Impact of Debt, Body Image Struggles, and Being “Replaceable” – Lorna’s Story. NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!”
“A Fine Balance – The Podcast”: Past, Present & Future
In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, the latest episode of A Fine Balance touches on the past, present and future of the podcast. On the past, I take a look back at what prompted me to create a podcast that delves into the subject of how different people pursue their balance between work andContinue reading ““A Fine Balance – The Podcast”: Past, Present & Future”
Routh’s Story – On Panic Attacks, Career Changes, and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
9/11 marked a dramatic turning point in the working life of the latest A Fine Balance © podcast guest, Routh Chadwick, a New York resident who at the time was an aspiring actress. The career changes that evolved from thereon maintained a degree of drama, as Routh went on to train as a clinical socialContinue reading “Routh’s Story – On Panic Attacks, Career Changes, and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
A Fine Balance Launches the Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance
Over the years of blogging and podcasting about how different people balance their work with everything else in life, I’ve witnessed the power of honest self-reflection. Seeking an understanding of the roots of an individual’s work values, I’ve observed, goes a long way in helping make sense of work-life balance choices. Doing so, can fosterContinue reading “A Fine Balance Launches the Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance”
Finding Work-Life Balance by Escaping the ‘Rat Race’ – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
This Work, Life, Balance Lessons episode has been inspired by a range of conversations I had with strangers during my summer holiday in Canada. These people – men and women, ranging in ages and professions – had one thing in common: they had all left big cities to locate themselves in remote places of naturalContinue reading “Finding Work-Life Balance by Escaping the ‘Rat Race’ – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Finding Balance When You’re Single and Looking for Love – Katie’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Work-life balance isn’t typically a topic you’d associate with single, young professionals with no caring responsibilities. Yet, as this episode’s guest, a business development manager and creator of the Single Sounds podcast, Katie McNamara shares, this is a time in life when there’s a lot going on. When you’re starting out in your career andContinue reading “Finding Balance When You’re Single and Looking for Love – Katie’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Self-Employed or Employed – Which is Better For Your Work-Life Balance? Work, Life, Balance Lesson #6 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Have you ever wondered if you’d have a better work-life balance by quitting your nine-to-five and setting up on your own? Perhaps you are self-employed and considering re-entering the workplace as an employee? Do you think doing so will enhance, or be detrimental, to your work-life balance? Or maybe you’re just generally interested in howContinue reading “Self-Employed or Employed – Which is Better For Your Work-Life Balance? Work, Life, Balance Lesson #6 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: On Finding Balance When You Work and Live With a Disability – Emma’s Story – Podcast Episode Out Now
This is a special episode to mark Disability Pride Month, which falls every July. My guest is Emma Livingstone, a married mum of three, who, in 2018, founded a campaigning movement called “UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement“, to improve care services for adults living with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Emma was diagnosed with CPContinue reading “DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: On Finding Balance When You Work and Live With a Disability – Emma’s Story – Podcast Episode Out Now”
Tips on How to Create a Morning Routine That Enhances Your Work-Life Balance: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #5 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
Do you rely on your morning routine to set yourself up for the day? Could your morning routine do with some improvement? Are you curious about how establishing a morning routine could help enhance how you balance work with everything else in life? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then thisContinue reading “Tips on How to Create a Morning Routine That Enhances Your Work-Life Balance: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #5 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
On Flexible Working, Morning Routines, and How To Find a Work-Life Balance When You Like to Be In Charge: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Rebecca Newenham
Do you plan your day’s outfit the night before? Guided by the mantra of “setting yourself up for the day ahead”, Rebecca is resolute that incorporating time first thing in the morning to exercise her mind and body, provides her with the foundation to live a balanced life. Eliminating the need to decide what toContinue reading “On Flexible Working, Morning Routines, and How To Find a Work-Life Balance When You Like to Be In Charge: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Rebecca Newenham”
How Do You Improve Your Work-Life Balance When You Hate Your Job? New Podcast Episode Out Now
“Hate” is a strong word, which I don’t use lightly. Yet, it features in the title of the latest podcast episode as a direct quote from people I’ve interviewed for the blog and podcast, A Fine Balance, who have talked about this exact thing. And it’s right that it’s a strong word because when youContinue reading “How Do You Improve Your Work-Life Balance When You Hate Your Job? New Podcast Episode Out Now”
On Marketing, Corporate Cultures, Having Fun, and Asking for Help: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Dan Knowlton
My guest this episode is the marketing professional, business owner, and podcast co-host, Dan Knowlton. Dan readily admits to not taking himself too seriously, and says that finding fun both in and outside of work contributes to his sense of balance. Yet, our conversation during this podcast episode takes a serious turn too, when DanContinue reading “On Marketing, Corporate Cultures, Having Fun, and Asking for Help: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Dan Knowlton”
Podcast Episode Out Today: On Housekeeping, Middle Age, and the Pursuit of Balance When Your Marriage Comes to an End – Helen’s Story
My interview with Helen Hayward primarily centres around the subject of her latest book, “Home Work”, a series of essays about the work we do around the home. It was fascinating to delve into a discussion on something so ordinary, yet such an integral part of daily domestic life. Helen’s analysis illuminates a perspective ofContinue reading “Podcast Episode Out Today: On Housekeeping, Middle Age, and the Pursuit of Balance When Your Marriage Comes to an End – Helen’s Story”
How Parents Influence Their Children’s Work-Life Balance Choices: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #2 – Podcast Episode Out Now
What did you learn from your parents about the way they worked when you were growing up about the pursuit of balance? Did their work-life balance approach inspire you to follow in their footsteps? Or did it have the opposite effect and encourage you to do things differently? In turn, as a parent yourself, howContinue reading “How Parents Influence Their Children’s Work-Life Balance Choices: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #2 – Podcast Episode Out Now”
Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts – Podcast Episode OUT NOW: Season 3; Episode 3
Picture this scenario: You’ve been invited out by friends for a drink after work. Throughout the course of your day, you get pulled into some important, absorbing work that needs dealing with. What do you do? For my latest guest on ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’, Rami Madbouli, the decision to choose work overContinue reading “Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts – Podcast Episode OUT NOW: Season 3; Episode 3”
Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts
Season 3, Episode 3 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: OUT SOON Subscribe here to be notified when the podcast episode is available to download. And if you enjoy it, please drop a rating and review! “I’m not very good at work-life balance“, said my latest podcast guest sheepishly, after summarising that he choosesContinue reading “Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts”
Work, Life, Balance Lesson #1: Finding Balance When You Have a Smartphone & You Engage With Social Media
Does having a smartphone enhance or hinder your ability to balance your work with everything else in life? In this short bitesize podcast episode, I share some observations of the impact that smartphones and social media have on work-life balance, based on conversations I’ve hosted on the blog and podcast ‘A Fine Balance’ It’s curiousContinue reading “Work, Life, Balance Lesson #1: Finding Balance When You Have a Smartphone & You Engage With Social Media”
Work, Life, Balance Lessons
I have learned so much from all the interviews I’ve conducted since launching my blog in 2020 – asking people from all walks of life about the choices they make when balancing work with everything else in life. Over time I’ve gathered many examples of actions that people have taken to find their balance. I’veContinue reading “Work, Life, Balance Lessons”
Finding Balance by Turning Your Passion into a Side Hustle: Bettina’s Story
Season 3, Episode 2 of ‘ A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ – Out Now There’s a saying that I’ve heard banded around communities of side hustlers that goes: “Your nine-to-five may make you a living. But your five-to-nine makes you alive“ This certainly rings true for the guest of my next podcast episode, BettinaContinue reading “Finding Balance by Turning Your Passion into a Side Hustle: Bettina’s Story”
On Motivation, Managing Your Emotions & Finding Balance When Engaging With Social Media: Vicky’s Story
Season 3, Episode 1 of ‘ A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ – Out Now Do you ever feel like you’re dragging your heels in getting started with something? Does your to-do list stare back at you as a reminder of all the things that you need to get done but haven’t made time forContinue reading “On Motivation, Managing Your Emotions & Finding Balance When Engaging With Social Media: Vicky’s Story”
On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer: Sam’s Story
A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 8 Out Now If you were told that your life had an “expiry date”, would you make any changes to how you balance your work with everything else? Such is the reality that was thrust upon my latest podcast guest, Sam Franklin, when he was toldContinue reading “On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer: Sam’s Story”
Emergency Podcast Episode: The Pursuit of Balance When You’re Living Through War
On 7th October 2023, the world woke up to horrific news of a terrorist attack in Israel. The trauma of this attack, and the war that has ensued, is far-reaching and multifaceted. And, as I write, it is still so raw and unfolding. With the help of my friend, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Dr IanContinue reading “Emergency Podcast Episode: The Pursuit of Balance When You’re Living Through War”
On Pride, Acceptance & Finding Balance by Parenting Equally: Paul’s Story
A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 6 Out Now How does a married couple – with a young child (and a puppy) – find a balance between each partner’s career and home life, when they both work full-time? My guest this episode, investigative journalist Paul Morgan-Bentley, claims to have the answer: theyContinue reading “On Pride, Acceptance & Finding Balance by Parenting Equally: Paul’s Story”
On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy”: Laura’s Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 5 Out Now The recording process for this episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ was plagued with quite a few mishaps. Thankfully, my guest Laura Krantz, who is a mother of five, and has spent most of her career working in the most challengingContinue reading “On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy”: Laura’s Story”
When the Podcaster is Podcasted
It was so great to chat this week to Lorna McKenna on her podcast “Evolve & Expand” about my blog, podcast, all things relating to the pursuit of balance. This was another first for me: being interviewed on someone else’s podcast. Being the interviewee for a change. I’ve held off doing this for a while,Continue reading “When the Podcaster is Podcasted”
On Finding Balance When You Want to “Have It All”, Teamwork & Avoiding Stress: Ruth’s Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 4 Out Now I’m delighted to introduce the guest of my next podcast episode, Ruth Todd CBE. Ruth’s career has been full of managing complex infrastructure and change projects for a string of blue-chip companies, often under public scrutiny. Formerly Programme Director of the UK’s VaccineContinue reading “On Finding Balance When You Want to “Have It All”, Teamwork & Avoiding Stress: Ruth’s Story”
Three Work-Life Balance Hacks: Coming soon in the Next Episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’
Over what’s been a very busy holiday period, I’ve been beavering away in the margins editing the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’, which features the indomitable Ruth Todd CBE as my guest. There are three work-life balance hacks that I’ve so far picked up from listening back to Ruth talk aboutContinue reading “Three Work-Life Balance Hacks: Coming soon in the Next Episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’”
On Finding Balance as a Career-Driven Family Man, When Work Takes Priority: Gilles’ Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 3 Out Now The third episode of this season’s podcast is out now, featuring Gilles Dahan, a former banker and head of global trading, who left the finance industry in 2019, and now works as a consultant and entrepreneur. This podcast episode contains some great nuggetsContinue reading “On Finding Balance as a Career-Driven Family Man, When Work Takes Priority: Gilles’ Story”
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 2 Out Now
I am thrilled to announce that the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now, featuring my guest, Katie Ford. You can listen by following this link, or by subscribing via any of the usual podcast providers. Katie started her career as a vet, yet her experience of burnout on accountContinue reading “‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 2 Out Now”
It’s Official! Season Two of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is live
I’m delighted to officially launch Season Two of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’! My first guest this Season is the musician and social media sensation Amanda Kaya. If you’re not familiar with Amanda’s music and art, then you should join the millions of others that follow her pages on Instagram and TikTok. In thisContinue reading “It’s Official! Season Two of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is live”
An Update from ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ HQ
I’m excited to be back in my metaphorical podcast editing suite (i.e. around my house on my phone) working on the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’. It’s been months since I had the opportunity to catch up on the podcast with people I’ve featured previously on the blog about their work-lifeContinue reading “An Update from ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ HQ”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 8 Out Now
EPISODE 8 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now! This episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast‘ features Tom McLaughlan, a retired Government Relations Advisor, who now works voluntarily for a crisis intervention charity. Tom first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in August 2021. In this podcast episode,Continue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 8 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: BONUS EPISODE, featuring Annabel Jeffcoate, on “How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance”
Episode 7 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN This is a bonus episode and different to my usual format. Rather than hosting someone that has already featured on the blog ‘A Fine Balance’, my guest on this episode is work-life balance expert and founder of the consultancyContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: BONUS EPISODE, featuring Annabel Jeffcoate, on “How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance””
Becoming a Podcaster in Four (Plus One) Basic Steps
I was recently invited to give a talk to a youth group in my community about my experience of becoming a podcaster. To begin with, I really wasn’t sure about how well-placed I was to lead a session on this. As a hobby blogger/podcaster, I’m still such a novice, and with only six podcast episodesContinue reading “Becoming a Podcaster in Four (Plus One) Basic Steps”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 6 Out Now
EPISODE 6 OF ‘A FINE BALANCE – THE PODCAST’: OUT NOW! This episode is a follow-up interview with Laurie Macpherson, who first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in July 2021. It was a pleasure to talk to Laurie again and as before, this interview packed a punch! In this podcast, we coverContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 6 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now
Episode 5 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. This episode is a follow-up interview with Sarah Macmull, who was first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in October 2020. It’s rare to hear a feminist extolling the virtues of home-keeping alongside career drive. And it’sContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 4 Out Now
To listen to Episode 4 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ click here: Michelle Green discusses Nadine’s Story on finding balance as a stay-at-home-mum, opting out of a career path & valuing a mother’s presence. This episode feels like it has been a long time coming, but that could be because since interviewing Nadine,Continue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 4 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 3 Out Now
To listen to Episode 3 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ click here. My guest this episode is Tahmid Chowdhury, who I interviewed for my blog in October 2020 in a post entitled: Tahmid’s Story – Ethnic minority beginnings, burnout and career change. Back then, he was straddling two careers in tandem and wasContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 3 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 2 Out Now
Episode 2 of ‘A Fine Balance- The Podcast’ is out now. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. I was first introduced to the guest of my second podcast episode, Jhilmil Kishore, in April 2021. She had read my blog, said that she thought it was an exciting project, and put herself forward to be interviewed. At theContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 2 Out Now”
Happy 1st Birthday, ‘A Fine Balance’!
Today marks a milestone moment in the life of my blog: a full year since the publication of my first post! And what better way to celebrate than to launch my brand new podcast…? My very first guest is teacher and ADHD expert, Soli Lazarus, who featured on my blog late last year. Unapologetic aboutContinue reading “Happy 1st Birthday, ‘A Fine Balance’!”
‘A Fine Balance’ Podcast Trailer – out today
It’s finally time to share the trailer for my podcast, which I’ll be launching next Monday, 26th July, to coincide with the first anniversary of my blog. This podcast has been a while in the making, not just because the time I have available to devote to it is fairly limited. The technical side hasContinue reading “‘A Fine Balance’ Podcast Trailer – out today”
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NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: The Work-Life Balance Diary of a CEO & The Pursuit of Balance When Your Child is Struggling – Featuring Liza Berresford
In this episode of the Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast, I’m joined by Liza Berresford, CEO of Thresholds – a provider of career support programmes – who speaks with remarkable honesty about what it really looks like to juggle a senior leadership role, family life, and her own wellbeing, while still very much in the thickContinue reading “NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: The Work-Life Balance Diary of a CEO & The Pursuit of Balance When Your Child is Struggling – Featuring Liza Berresford”
NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: On Menopause, Putting Family First and Finding a Work-Life Balance When Everything Changes – Featuring Jacqueline Rose
There’s a lot of discussion about hot flushes and brain fog when it comes to menopause. What’s talked about far less is the impact that its onset can have on a woman’s motivations, ambitions, and overall outlook on life. In the latest Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast episode, I sit down with Jacqueline Rose, a women’sContinue reading “NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW: On Menopause, Putting Family First and Finding a Work-Life Balance When Everything Changes – Featuring Jacqueline Rose”
MAY NEWSLETTER: Everything Changes (And So Does Work-Life Balance)
As with every month’s end, as May has drawn to a close, I started thinking of a dominant theme covered on and around the podcast this month on which to base my newsletter. My latest podcast edits have featured interviews with people whose work and personal lives have undergone huge changes; I’m moving jobs soonContinue reading “MAY NEWSLETTER: Everything Changes (And So Does Work-Life Balance)”
NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY: On Life Purpose, Raising Teens & Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re “The Strong One” – Jennifer Y. Afriye’s Story
It’s not unusual for conversations about work-life balance to drift into the minutiae of the never-ending to-do list. But what if you flipped the magnifying glass around and saw things from another – more macro – perspective? Such was the conversation I hosted on the podcast episode out today, where my guest, Jennifer Y. AfriyeContinue reading “NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY: On Life Purpose, Raising Teens & Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re “The Strong One” – Jennifer Y. Afriye’s Story”
On “Leaving the Ladder Down”, Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Working Parent, and the Transformative Power of Therapy: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING DOLLY JONES
Beyond the Catchy Title When I came across Dolly Jones’ book Leaving the Ladder Down: How to Combine Career and Motherhood, from the Women Who’ve Done it, it immediately resonated with the approach I’d taken when starting the blog A Fine Balance, which evolved into the Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast. Both Leaving the Ladder DownContinue reading “On “Leaving the Ladder Down”, Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Working Parent, and the Transformative Power of Therapy: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING DOLLY JONES”
On Balancing a Corporate Job With Creative Pursuits, Boundary-Setting & Cultural Influences – Urmi’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING URMI HOSSAIN
In a world where the lines between work and personal life are increasingly blurred, achieving a work-life balance that feels right for you often comes down to the boundaries you decide to set for yourself and those around you. For my podcast guest this episode, there is no doubt where her work ends and theContinue reading “On Balancing a Corporate Job With Creative Pursuits, Boundary-Setting & Cultural Influences – Urmi’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING URMI HOSSAIN”
SEASON 5 HAS BEGUN! Kicking Off With Episode 1: On Defining Success, Learning from Adversity & Regaining Balance by Asking Two Key Questions
Sometimes it’s nice to be told what to do. No vague steers. No waffly suggestions. Just cold, hard, clear instructions. When it comes to the pursuit of work-life balance, where each person’s unique situation requires a bespoke approach, explicit guidance is not easy to come by. Because what works for one person won’t necessarily workContinue reading “SEASON 5 HAS BEGUN! Kicking Off With Episode 1: On Defining Success, Learning from Adversity & Regaining Balance by Asking Two Key Questions”
And The Winner Is…
At the start of 2026, I put out a call to listeners and the Riverside podcasting community to help me decide on a refreshed podcast cover artwork design to suit the rebranded podcast – if you missed what that was all about, check out this blog post: After a fair few redrafts, I have finallyContinue reading “And The Winner Is…”
Podcast Rebrand for 2026
Here’s what I’m letting go of in 2026. They’re just three little words, but they mean a lot. A. Fine. Balance. These were the words that I chose as the title of my maiden blog post. And they were the natural choice for the name of my website. And subsequently my podcast. “A fine balance”Continue reading “Podcast Rebrand for 2026”
2025: A Year in Review
Since wrapping up Season 4 of the podcast A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions, I’ve taken a break from recording to focus on other podcast-related activity. But, as the year draws to a close, I decided to plug the mic back in for one last time in 2025 to review the podcast’s content over theContinue reading “2025: A Year in Review”
On Self-Worth, Skincare Rituals, and Finding Balance Under the Weight of Parental Expectations – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING DR FERNANDA DA SILVA TATLEY
Podcast episode featuring Dr Fernanda da Silva Tatley: On Self-Worth, Skincare Rituals, and Finding Balance Under the Weight of Parental Expectations My guest in this episode is no stranger to mixing things up: she has moved countries and even continents multiple times in her life; she is a scientist with a PhD, describes herself asContinue reading “On Self-Worth, Skincare Rituals, and Finding Balance Under the Weight of Parental Expectations – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW FEATURING DR FERNANDA DA SILVA TATLEY”
On Being Bored and Unfulfilled at Work, Virtual Assistant Diary Management Tips, and Finding Work-Life Balance by Quitting Your Corporate 9-5 and Starting Your Own Business – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY FEATURING WOW MOM’S RACHEL GREEN
Burnout at work can be like a fire that flames intensely until it eventually devours all its fuel and extinguishes in exhaustion. Conversely, boredom at work can be more of a fading ember, gradually fizzling out into oblivion. What they have in common, however, is their potential to lead to a similar work-life balance tippingContinue reading “On Being Bored and Unfulfilled at Work, Virtual Assistant Diary Management Tips, and Finding Work-Life Balance by Quitting Your Corporate 9-5 and Starting Your Own Business – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY FEATURING WOW MOM’S RACHEL GREEN”
On Autism, Conscientiousness, Self-Acceptance, and the Pursuit of Work-Life Balance as a Neurodivergent Person in a Neurotypical World – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING HELEN JEFFRIES
I’m sorry to say that I’ve had to include a trigger warning at the start of the podcast episode out today, to warn listeners that some of the themes touched on throughout my recorded conversation with Helen Jeffries – a Senior Civil Servant in the UK Government, a prolific blogger on autism, a Trustee forContinue reading “On Autism, Conscientiousness, Self-Acceptance, and the Pursuit of Work-Life Balance as a Neurodivergent Person in a Neurotypical World – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW, FEATURING HELEN JEFFRIES”
50th Celebration Episode Out Now
What do turning 4 and hitting 50 have in common? Together they mean that the podcast A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions is officially old enough to contain some wisdom, but still in its infancy and curious to learn more. This month not only marks the podcast’s 4th birthday, but also the major milestone ofContinue reading “50th Celebration Episode Out Now”
✨Take Part in the 50th Podcast Episode Celebration✨
The next podcast episode I’m producing marks a huge milestone in the life of A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions – it’s the podcast’s 50th episode! To celebrate, this episode will be different to my usual format with a few surprises, including a run-down of the TOP THREE most downloaded Work, Life Balance Lessons. I’d love toContinue reading “✨Take Part in the 50th Podcast Episode Celebration✨ “
Going Live Tonight on Instagram with Lana Manikowski: On the Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances
You think your calendar’s chaotic? Try syncing it with an IVF cycle. When your body won’t stick to the plan, how do you balance career, identity, and everything in between? Lana Manikowski and I are going LIVE on Instagram this evening, Wednesday 18 June at 20.00 BST, to dive deeper into the themes that weContinue reading “Going Live Tonight on Instagram with Lana Manikowski: On the Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances “
Going Live on Instagram With Victoria Mortimer (AKA The Unlikely Accountant)! Join us Today at 14.00 BST
What are you doing at 14.00 (BST) today? If you’ve got 30 minutes and a cup of coffee, join me LIVE on Instagram with the incredible Victoria Mortimer ACA (aka The Unlikely Accountant)! We’ll be diving deeper into our recent podcast episode On Accountancy, Regaining Balance After Heartbreak, and the Power of a Good Night’sContinue reading “Going Live on Instagram With Victoria Mortimer (AKA The Unlikely Accountant)! Join us Today at 14.00 BST”
On Accountancy, Regaining Balance After Heartbreak, and the Power of a Good Night’s Sleep – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
When things feel right at work, it becomes so much easier to find a balance with everything else in life. And when things don’t, everything else can feel off kilter too. In the latest episode of the A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions podcast, I sit down with Victoria Mortimer, a chartered accountant whose careerContinue reading “On Accountancy, Regaining Balance After Heartbreak, and the Power of a Good Night’s Sleep – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
The Pursuit of Work-Life Balance When You’re Grieving – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
This Work, Life Balance Lesson episode is not an easy one to broach because it’s on a highly sensitive subject, and one which hits everyone in an individually unique way: grief, and the interplay between bereavement and work-life balance. I’m reminded of the old adage that there are only two sure things in life: deathContinue reading “The Pursuit of Work-Life Balance When You’re Grieving – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
On Legacy, Purpose, and Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re Working as a Politician and Elected Official – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
What do you want to be remembered for? It’s a heavy question, I know. But when it comes to calibrating your work-life balance and deciding how to spend your limited time and energy, it’s one worth asking. What really matters in the end? And when I look back on my life, what do I wantContinue reading “On Legacy, Purpose, and Finding Work-Life Balance When You’re Working as a Politician and Elected Official – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
How Does Feeling Judged Impact Your Work-Life Balance, and What Can You Do to Manage Your Reactions to it? – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Do you ever feel judged for how you balance work with everything else in life? Or feel that people’s judgments about you – at work or in your personal life – impact your overall sense of balance? If so, you’re not alone. The subject of feeling judged, and the reactions it evokes, often arises inContinue reading “How Does Feeling Judged Impact Your Work-Life Balance, and What Can You Do to Manage Your Reactions to it? – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
The Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Have you ever found yourself on a life or career path that took you completely by surprise? When a plan you’d mapped out so clearly in your head didn’t unfold the way you’d imagined — or hoped — it would? Well, my guest in this podcast episode, Lana Manikowski, is no stranger to that kindContinue reading “The Pursuit of Balance When Undergoing Infertility Treatment, and How to Regain Balance and Find Purpose in Unexpected Circumstances – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Time-Management Tips to Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Creating a meal-planner often comes up in podcast conversations as the ‘gold standard’ of time-management. Plan what you and your family are going to eat every day of the week, shop and prepare accordingly, and sorted: you’ve truly got your life together. I’m not knocking it. It’s a great, simple technique that anyone can adoptContinue reading “Time-Management Tips to Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
An Uphill Climb: One Woman’s Story of Social Mobility, Single Motherhood, and Work-Life Balance
Do you think there’s a direct correlation between educational attainment and imposter syndrome? The latest podcast episode of Work-Life Balance Confessions: A Fine Balance is about a woman who did not progress her education past high school. For legal reasons pertaining to her acrimonious divorce, she chose not to reveal her true identity, so weContinue reading “An Uphill Climb: One Woman’s Story of Social Mobility, Single Motherhood, and Work-Life Balance”
How Tapping into Your Feelings of Gratitude Can Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
In the latest podcast episode of A Fine Balance: Work-Life Balance Confessions, out today, I dive into the lessons I’ve learned about the transformative power of gratitude and its profoundly positive impact on work-life balance. Drawing from the real-life experiences of past podcast guests, I explore how cultivating gratitude has shaped their perspectives, helping themContinue reading “How Tapping into Your Feelings of Gratitude Can Improve Your Work-Life Balance – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
On Climbing the Career Ladder When You Haven’t Gone to University, and Single Motherhood When You’re Co-Parenting Following an Acrimonious Divorce – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TOMORROW
In the upcoming episode of Work-Life Balance Confessions: A Fine Balance, I share the anonymous “work-life balance confession” of someone who, for legal reasons pertaining to an acrimonious divorce, did want to reveal her true identity. We agreed on the pseudonym “Susan”, who revealed in a confidential interview the emotional and financial struggles she contendsContinue reading “On Climbing the Career Ladder When You Haven’t Gone to University, and Single Motherhood When You’re Co-Parenting Following an Acrimonious Divorce – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TOMORROW”
On Being a Primary-Caring Father, Juggling Work and Home Life With Creativity and Patience, and Finding Work-Life Balance as a Self-Employed Gardener – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
In this episode, self-employed gardener Joe Roukin, otherwise known as Mr Plant Whisperer, joins me for a candid conversation about his experience as a married dad of two who is the primary carer in his family. Joe shares his unique perspective on how to strike the right balance between staying organised and ‘going with theContinue reading “On Being a Primary-Caring Father, Juggling Work and Home Life With Creativity and Patience, and Finding Work-Life Balance as a Self-Employed Gardener – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
How to Find a Work-Life Balance by Working More – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
The rhetoric around work-life balance is often twinned with messaging around self-care and well-being. And whilst it’s true that the end result of improving your work-life balance is usually an enhanced sense of well-being, there are many ways in which a person can get to that point. And one of those is by working more.Continue reading “How to Find a Work-Life Balance by Working More – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Finding a Work-Life Balance When The ‘To Do’ List is Never Done: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
This solo episode covers the “Work-Life Balance Confession” of a woman named Kerry (*not her real name), who did not want to reveal her identity. Kerry’s work-life balance story originally featured on the blog, and centred on the themes of finding a work-life balance when: 📋 You have a never-ending ‘to-do list’ 🤰 You’re aContinue reading “Finding a Work-Life Balance When The ‘To Do’ List is Never Done: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You’re a Perfectionist – Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8
Is it possible to find a work-life balance when you’re a perfectionist? After all, perfectionism is often seen as a hindrance to work-life balance. Defined in dictionaries as a trait that causes people to be “not satisfied with anything less than perfect”, it is often associated with burnout. In the latest episode of the podcastContinue reading “How to Find a Work-Life Balance When You’re a Perfectionist – Work, Life, Balance Lesson #8”
On the Hidden Impact of Debt, Body Image Struggles, and Being “Replaceable” – Lorna’s Story. NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!
The first episode of Season 4 of A Fine Balance is out now! In it, we explore some serious life challenges that can underlyingly impact a person’s work-life balance, through the personal story of my guest Lorna McKenna. Lorna works full-time in local government, alongside running her passion project of coaching and hosting a personalContinue reading “On the Hidden Impact of Debt, Body Image Struggles, and Being “Replaceable” – Lorna’s Story. NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!”
“A Fine Balance – The Podcast”: Past, Present & Future
In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, the latest episode of A Fine Balance touches on the past, present and future of the podcast. On the past, I take a look back at what prompted me to create a podcast that delves into the subject of how different people pursue their balance between work andContinue reading ““A Fine Balance – The Podcast”: Past, Present & Future”
Routh’s Story – On Panic Attacks, Career Changes, and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
9/11 marked a dramatic turning point in the working life of the latest A Fine Balance © podcast guest, Routh Chadwick, a New York resident who at the time was an aspiring actress. The career changes that evolved from thereon maintained a degree of drama, as Routh went on to train as a clinical socialContinue reading “Routh’s Story – On Panic Attacks, Career Changes, and Regaining Balance After Hitting Rock Bottom: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
A Fine Balance Launches the Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance
Over the years of blogging and podcasting about how different people balance their work with everything else in life, I’ve witnessed the power of honest self-reflection. Seeking an understanding of the roots of an individual’s work values, I’ve observed, goes a long way in helping make sense of work-life balance choices. Doing so, can fosterContinue reading “A Fine Balance Launches the Work, Life, Balance Self-Assessment: a Tool for Reflecting on Your Personal Pursuit of Balance”
Finding Work-Life Balance by Escaping the ‘Rat Race’ – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
This Work, Life, Balance Lessons episode has been inspired by a range of conversations I had with strangers during my summer holiday in Canada. These people – men and women, ranging in ages and professions – had one thing in common: they had all left big cities to locate themselves in remote places of naturalContinue reading “Finding Work-Life Balance by Escaping the ‘Rat Race’ – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Finding Balance When You’re Single and Looking for Love – Katie’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Work-life balance isn’t typically a topic you’d associate with single, young professionals with no caring responsibilities. Yet, as this episode’s guest, a business development manager and creator of the Single Sounds podcast, Katie McNamara shares, this is a time in life when there’s a lot going on. When you’re starting out in your career andContinue reading “Finding Balance When You’re Single and Looking for Love – Katie’s Story: NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
Self-Employed or Employed – Which is Better For Your Work-Life Balance? Work, Life, Balance Lesson #6 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY
Have you ever wondered if you’d have a better work-life balance by quitting your nine-to-five and setting up on your own? Perhaps you are self-employed and considering re-entering the workplace as an employee? Do you think doing so will enhance, or be detrimental, to your work-life balance? Or maybe you’re just generally interested in howContinue reading “Self-Employed or Employed – Which is Better For Your Work-Life Balance? Work, Life, Balance Lesson #6 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY”
DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: On Finding Balance When You Work and Live With a Disability – Emma’s Story – Podcast Episode Out Now
This is a special episode to mark Disability Pride Month, which falls every July. My guest is Emma Livingstone, a married mum of three, who, in 2018, founded a campaigning movement called “UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement“, to improve care services for adults living with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Emma was diagnosed with CPContinue reading “DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL: On Finding Balance When You Work and Live With a Disability – Emma’s Story – Podcast Episode Out Now”
Tips on How to Create a Morning Routine That Enhances Your Work-Life Balance: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #5 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW
Do you rely on your morning routine to set yourself up for the day? Could your morning routine do with some improvement? Are you curious about how establishing a morning routine could help enhance how you balance work with everything else in life? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then thisContinue reading “Tips on How to Create a Morning Routine That Enhances Your Work-Life Balance: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #5 – NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW”
On Flexible Working, Morning Routines, and How To Find a Work-Life Balance When You Like to Be In Charge: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Rebecca Newenham
Do you plan your day’s outfit the night before? Guided by the mantra of “setting yourself up for the day ahead”, Rebecca is resolute that incorporating time first thing in the morning to exercise her mind and body, provides her with the foundation to live a balanced life. Eliminating the need to decide what toContinue reading “On Flexible Working, Morning Routines, and How To Find a Work-Life Balance When You Like to Be In Charge: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Rebecca Newenham”
How Do You Improve Your Work-Life Balance When You Hate Your Job? New Podcast Episode Out Now
“Hate” is a strong word, which I don’t use lightly. Yet, it features in the title of the latest podcast episode as a direct quote from people I’ve interviewed for the blog and podcast, A Fine Balance, who have talked about this exact thing. And it’s right that it’s a strong word because when youContinue reading “How Do You Improve Your Work-Life Balance When You Hate Your Job? New Podcast Episode Out Now”
On Marketing, Corporate Cultures, Having Fun, and Asking for Help: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Dan Knowlton
My guest this episode is the marketing professional, business owner, and podcast co-host, Dan Knowlton. Dan readily admits to not taking himself too seriously, and says that finding fun both in and outside of work contributes to his sense of balance. Yet, our conversation during this podcast episode takes a serious turn too, when DanContinue reading “On Marketing, Corporate Cultures, Having Fun, and Asking for Help: New Podcast Episode Out Now, Featuring Dan Knowlton”
Podcast Episode Out Today: On Housekeeping, Middle Age, and the Pursuit of Balance When Your Marriage Comes to an End – Helen’s Story
My interview with Helen Hayward primarily centres around the subject of her latest book, “Home Work”, a series of essays about the work we do around the home. It was fascinating to delve into a discussion on something so ordinary, yet such an integral part of daily domestic life. Helen’s analysis illuminates a perspective ofContinue reading “Podcast Episode Out Today: On Housekeeping, Middle Age, and the Pursuit of Balance When Your Marriage Comes to an End – Helen’s Story”
How Parents Influence Their Children’s Work-Life Balance Choices: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #2 – Podcast Episode Out Now
What did you learn from your parents about the way they worked when you were growing up about the pursuit of balance? Did their work-life balance approach inspire you to follow in their footsteps? Or did it have the opposite effect and encourage you to do things differently? In turn, as a parent yourself, howContinue reading “How Parents Influence Their Children’s Work-Life Balance Choices: Work, Life, Balance Lesson #2 – Podcast Episode Out Now”
Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts – Podcast Episode OUT NOW: Season 3; Episode 3
Picture this scenario: You’ve been invited out by friends for a drink after work. Throughout the course of your day, you get pulled into some important, absorbing work that needs dealing with. What do you do? For my latest guest on ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’, Rami Madbouli, the decision to choose work overContinue reading “Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts – Podcast Episode OUT NOW: Season 3; Episode 3”
Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts
Season 3, Episode 3 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: OUT SOON Subscribe here to be notified when the podcast episode is available to download. And if you enjoy it, please drop a rating and review! “I’m not very good at work-life balance“, said my latest podcast guest sheepishly, after summarising that he choosesContinue reading “Finding Balance When You’re An Introvert in a Family and Workplace Full of Extroverts”
Work, Life, Balance Lesson #1: Finding Balance When You Have a Smartphone & You Engage With Social Media
Does having a smartphone enhance or hinder your ability to balance your work with everything else in life? In this short bitesize podcast episode, I share some observations of the impact that smartphones and social media have on work-life balance, based on conversations I’ve hosted on the blog and podcast ‘A Fine Balance’ It’s curiousContinue reading “Work, Life, Balance Lesson #1: Finding Balance When You Have a Smartphone & You Engage With Social Media”
Work, Life, Balance Lessons
I have learned so much from all the interviews I’ve conducted since launching my blog in 2020 – asking people from all walks of life about the choices they make when balancing work with everything else in life. Over time I’ve gathered many examples of actions that people have taken to find their balance. I’veContinue reading “Work, Life, Balance Lessons”
Finding Balance by Turning Your Passion into a Side Hustle: Bettina’s Story
Season 3, Episode 2 of ‘ A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ – Out Now There’s a saying that I’ve heard banded around communities of side hustlers that goes: “Your nine-to-five may make you a living. But your five-to-nine makes you alive“ This certainly rings true for the guest of my next podcast episode, BettinaContinue reading “Finding Balance by Turning Your Passion into a Side Hustle: Bettina’s Story”
On Motivation, Managing Your Emotions & Finding Balance When Engaging With Social Media: Vicky’s Story
Season 3, Episode 1 of ‘ A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ – Out Now Do you ever feel like you’re dragging your heels in getting started with something? Does your to-do list stare back at you as a reminder of all the things that you need to get done but haven’t made time forContinue reading “On Motivation, Managing Your Emotions & Finding Balance When Engaging With Social Media: Vicky’s Story”
On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer: Sam’s Story
A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 8 Out Now If you were told that your life had an “expiry date”, would you make any changes to how you balance your work with everything else? Such is the reality that was thrust upon my latest podcast guest, Sam Franklin, when he was toldContinue reading “On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer: Sam’s Story”
Emergency Podcast Episode: The Pursuit of Balance When You’re Living Through War
On 7th October 2023, the world woke up to horrific news of a terrorist attack in Israel. The trauma of this attack, and the war that has ensued, is far-reaching and multifaceted. And, as I write, it is still so raw and unfolding. With the help of my friend, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Dr IanContinue reading “Emergency Podcast Episode: The Pursuit of Balance When You’re Living Through War”
On Pride, Acceptance & Finding Balance by Parenting Equally: Paul’s Story
A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 6 Out Now How does a married couple – with a young child (and a puppy) – find a balance between each partner’s career and home life, when they both work full-time? My guest this episode, investigative journalist Paul Morgan-Bentley, claims to have the answer: theyContinue reading “On Pride, Acceptance & Finding Balance by Parenting Equally: Paul’s Story”
On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy”: Laura’s Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 5 Out Now The recording process for this episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ was plagued with quite a few mishaps. Thankfully, my guest Laura Krantz, who is a mother of five, and has spent most of her career working in the most challengingContinue reading “On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy”: Laura’s Story”
When the Podcaster is Podcasted
It was so great to chat this week to Lorna McKenna on her podcast “Evolve & Expand” about my blog, podcast, all things relating to the pursuit of balance. This was another first for me: being interviewed on someone else’s podcast. Being the interviewee for a change. I’ve held off doing this for a while,Continue reading “When the Podcaster is Podcasted”
On Finding Balance When You Want to “Have It All”, Teamwork & Avoiding Stress: Ruth’s Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 4 Out Now I’m delighted to introduce the guest of my next podcast episode, Ruth Todd CBE. Ruth’s career has been full of managing complex infrastructure and change projects for a string of blue-chip companies, often under public scrutiny. Formerly Programme Director of the UK’s VaccineContinue reading “On Finding Balance When You Want to “Have It All”, Teamwork & Avoiding Stress: Ruth’s Story”
Three Work-Life Balance Hacks: Coming soon in the Next Episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’
Over what’s been a very busy holiday period, I’ve been beavering away in the margins editing the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’, which features the indomitable Ruth Todd CBE as my guest. There are three work-life balance hacks that I’ve so far picked up from listening back to Ruth talk aboutContinue reading “Three Work-Life Balance Hacks: Coming soon in the Next Episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’”
On Finding Balance as a Career-Driven Family Man, When Work Takes Priority: Gilles’ Story
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 3 Out Now The third episode of this season’s podcast is out now, featuring Gilles Dahan, a former banker and head of global trading, who left the finance industry in 2019, and now works as a consultant and entrepreneur. This podcast episode contains some great nuggetsContinue reading “On Finding Balance as a Career-Driven Family Man, When Work Takes Priority: Gilles’ Story”
‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 2 Out Now
I am thrilled to announce that the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now, featuring my guest, Katie Ford. You can listen by following this link, or by subscribing via any of the usual podcast providers. Katie started her career as a vet, yet her experience of burnout on accountContinue reading “‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’: Season 2, Episode 2 Out Now”
It’s Official! Season Two of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is live
I’m delighted to officially launch Season Two of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’! My first guest this Season is the musician and social media sensation Amanda Kaya. If you’re not familiar with Amanda’s music and art, then you should join the millions of others that follow her pages on Instagram and TikTok. In thisContinue reading “It’s Official! Season Two of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is live”
An Update from ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ HQ
I’m excited to be back in my metaphorical podcast editing suite (i.e. around my house on my phone) working on the next episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’. It’s been months since I had the opportunity to catch up on the podcast with people I’ve featured previously on the blog about their work-lifeContinue reading “An Update from ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ HQ”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 8 Out Now
EPISODE 8 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now! This episode of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast‘ features Tom McLaughlan, a retired Government Relations Advisor, who now works voluntarily for a crisis intervention charity. Tom first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in August 2021. In this podcast episode,Continue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 8 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: BONUS EPISODE, featuring Annabel Jeffcoate, on “How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance”
Episode 7 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN This is a bonus episode and different to my usual format. Rather than hosting someone that has already featured on the blog ‘A Fine Balance’, my guest on this episode is work-life balance expert and founder of the consultancyContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: BONUS EPISODE, featuring Annabel Jeffcoate, on “How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance””
Becoming a Podcaster in Four (Plus One) Basic Steps
I was recently invited to give a talk to a youth group in my community about my experience of becoming a podcaster. To begin with, I really wasn’t sure about how well-placed I was to lead a session on this. As a hobby blogger/podcaster, I’m still such a novice, and with only six podcast episodesContinue reading “Becoming a Podcaster in Four (Plus One) Basic Steps”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 6 Out Now
EPISODE 6 OF ‘A FINE BALANCE – THE PODCAST’: OUT NOW! This episode is a follow-up interview with Laurie Macpherson, who first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in July 2021. It was a pleasure to talk to Laurie again and as before, this interview packed a punch! In this podcast, we coverContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 6 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now
Episode 5 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ is out now: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. This episode is a follow-up interview with Sarah Macmull, who was first featured on ‘A Fine Balance – The Blog’ in October 2020. It’s rare to hear a feminist extolling the virtues of home-keeping alongside career drive. And it’sContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 5 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 4 Out Now
To listen to Episode 4 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ click here: Michelle Green discusses Nadine’s Story on finding balance as a stay-at-home-mum, opting out of a career path & valuing a mother’s presence. This episode feels like it has been a long time coming, but that could be because since interviewing Nadine,Continue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 4 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 3 Out Now
To listen to Episode 3 of ‘A Fine Balance – The Podcast’ click here. My guest this episode is Tahmid Chowdhury, who I interviewed for my blog in October 2020 in a post entitled: Tahmid’s Story – Ethnic minority beginnings, burnout and career change. Back then, he was straddling two careers in tandem and wasContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 3 Out Now”
A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 2 Out Now
Episode 2 of ‘A Fine Balance- The Podcast’ is out now. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN. I was first introduced to the guest of my second podcast episode, Jhilmil Kishore, in April 2021. She had read my blog, said that she thought it was an exciting project, and put herself forward to be interviewed. At theContinue reading “A Fine Balance – The Podcast: Episode 2 Out Now”
Happy 1st Birthday, ‘A Fine Balance’!
Today marks a milestone moment in the life of my blog: a full year since the publication of my first post! And what better way to celebrate than to launch my brand new podcast…? My very first guest is teacher and ADHD expert, Soli Lazarus, who featured on my blog late last year. Unapologetic aboutContinue reading “Happy 1st Birthday, ‘A Fine Balance’!”
‘A Fine Balance’ Podcast Trailer – out today
It’s finally time to share the trailer for my podcast, which I’ll be launching next Monday, 26th July, to coincide with the first anniversary of my blog. This podcast has been a while in the making, not just because the time I have available to devote to it is fairly limited. The technical side hasContinue reading “‘A Fine Balance’ Podcast Trailer – out today”
